Ryan Reynolds Says Blake Lively Helps Him Through His Struggles with Anxiety

He’s handsome. He’s talented. And to top it all off, he has a wonderful family. Ryan Reynolds definitely has a charmed life, but that doesn’t mean things are always sunshine and rainbows.

The Deadpoolstar spoke candidly about his struggle with anxiety and expressed gratitude that his wife, Blake Lively, has helped him ease it in an interview with Variety.

The father of two remembered when his anxiety began, saying, “Our father was tough. He wasn’t easy on anyone. And he wasn’t easy on himself. I think the anxiety might have started there, trying to find ways to control others by trying to control myself. At the time, I never recognized that.”

As he matured, his anxiety lessened—until he snagged his role in Deadpool. Reynolds stayed up at night worrying about letting fans of the comic book franchise down. “I never, ever slept. Or I was sleeping at a perfect right angle—just sitting straight, constantly working at the same time…The expectations were eating me alive,” he said.

Thankfully, his wife of five years helped soothe his fears. Reynolds said, “Blake helped me through that. I’m lucky to have her around just to keep me sane.”

Ryan, thanks for being open and honest with us. And we’ll be honest with you, too: You were freaking amazing in Deadpool.